Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003Fire smokes out businesses

Buns weren't the only things toasting Friday afternoon at The Sub Shop in Somerset.

Firefighters from six departments responded to the business tucked away in the corner of the Coleman Building, 531 N. Center Ave., after the wiring in a basement electrical panel caught fire.

Those inside the building reported hearing loud banging noises as the basement filled with thick, gray smoke.

"It was so loud I jumped four steps at one time," said Joe Crimone, a friend of Sub Shop owner Chris Cecil.

About 25 people were inside the building's businesses when the fire started. They quickly evacuated and no one was hurt.

"Somebody came in and told us," Cecil said. "We were making food at the time."

Bonnie Sechler, a rental agent for Coleman Brothers Enterprises, was at her desk when she heard a "banging" noise and office equipment shut off.

Advertisement

Sechler tried to use an office phone to dial 911, but it was dead. So she resorted to her trusty cell phone, placing the call about 2:47 p.m.

Firefighters from Somerset, Friedens, Listie, Sipesville, Rockwood and Berlin arrived on the scene within minutes, aided by a Somerset Borough police officer who stopped traffic on always-busy North Center Avenue. Somerset Area Ambulance also responded.

Clark described the panel as a 600-amp/three phase, one containing enough electricity to threaten a firefighter's life had officials decided to use water instead of powder.

"Everything was confined to the electrical panel box," Clark said. "We extinguished it and kept the fire down by using dry chemical extinguishers until Penelec could shut off power to the building."

Firefighters set up ventilation fans to force smoke from the building.

The blaze caused an estimated $4,000 in damages, though it could have been a lot worse, according to firefighters. Clark said the basement is filled with combustible materials, including cardboard, plastic and wood.

The large, red-brick building houses several businesses, including The Sub Shop, Bastian Homes, Independent Insurance Associates and Elegant Creations II. It is owned by Coleman Brothers Enterprises.

Clark credited the building's maintenance men and other departments for a successful response. Clark said the fire was contained to the basement, and smoke damage was minimal.

"I can't thank all the mutual aid companies enough," he said. "Everything worked like it was supposed to."

People who work inside the building said the power outages were scattered - affecting some appliances and equipment, but not others.

Cecil was particularly concerned about restoring power to a freezer, which he said contains about $5,000 in meat, buns and other submarine sandwich products.

The entire building was scheduled to close for the remainder of the night. Cecil hoped to re-open very soon.

"We hope to open (today) depending on how much smoke is in there and if we have inventory left," he said.